Method of producing ethylene (di)chloride (EDC)

Abstract

With a method or a device for producing 1,2-dichloroethane or ethylene (di)chloride (EDC) with the use of a circulating reaction medium and a catalyst, whereby ethylene and chlorine are supplied to the reaction medium, the goal is to permit the catalytic chlorination of ethylene in a manner that is particularly gentle to the product. This is achieved in terms of the method and by other means in that the ethylene or chlorine gas are introduced into the reaction medium by means of microporous gas diffuser elements for producing gas bubbles with a diameter of 0.3 to 3 mm.

1. A method of producing 1, 2-dichloroethane or ethylene (di)chloride (EDC) using a circulating reaction medium and a catalyst, whereby ethylene and chlorine are supplied to the reaction medium, comprising the steps of
 (a) introducing ethylene into the circulating reaction medium at a point upstream viewed in the direction of circulation of the reaction medium and, after passing the ethylene through a mixing and dissolving zone, completely dissolving the ethylene in the reaction medium stream; and  
 (b) dissolving the chlorine in a cooled part stream of the reaction medium and subsequently supplying the chlorine to the main stream of the reaction medium further downstream;  
 whereby the ethylene (di)chlorine liberated with the help of the reaction of chlorine and ethylene and evaporated by the reaction heat is discharged from the reactor vessel in the gaseous state, whereas the residual amount remaining in the evaporator vessel is recycled into the reaction zone.  
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the ethylene or chlorine gas is introduced into the reaction medium by means of microporous gas diffuser elements in order to produce gas bubbles with a diameter of 0.3 to 3 mm. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a medium predominantly containing 1,2-dichloroethane is used as time reaction medium. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of about 75° C. to 200° C. and a pressure of about 1 to 15 bar are adjusted in the mixing and reaction zone, and the flow-through velocity is controlled so that the dwelling time of the reaction mixture in the mixing and reaction zone amounts to about 1 to 30 seconds. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the EDC formed first remains in the liquid phase or evaporates within the zone of the surface of the evaporator vessel; whereby the evaporation cold is compensated by the reaction heat. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the chlorine is a parately dissolved in the liquid and supplied to the reaction medium.